Daniel Talbot
(Captain Capt) Welfare Staff (Padre)
Daniel has been involved with Project Redsand since 2017 and has been an extremely keen and active member towards the tasks set before him. He is also the Projects welfare officer due to his very good nature and has assumed the Role of the Army Padre.
Daniel is also very enthusiastic in adding members to his "flock"
"The Forts are an amazing sight to behold and cant wait to get back out there again!"
David Foulkes
Mechanical & Fabrication Co-ordinator (WO 1) (Dangerous)
David has been involved with Project Redsand since late 2007 and is a highly skilled and experienced Mechanic/Welder Fabricator who has worked on a wide range of different types of vehicles and machines and other Projects in the past such as Coalhouse Fort in East Tilbury in Essex please visit www.coalhousefort.co.uk
He is keen historian and is passionate about the preservation of the Seaforts and enthusiastically coordinates the procurement of materials and Volunteers for our Working Party restoration visits.
David is also a Corporal in the REME Army Reserves 103 BN 128 Sup Coy and a proud father to three boys
Jacob , Joseph and Joshua.
David used to go to school in Southend on Sea and was always fascinated in the silhouetted structures on the horizon and it wasn't until the age of the internet that he understood what they were and their importance in Defence and their subsequent history due in part to them falling under the Official Secrets Act.
"Redsands is a totally unique structure and deserves preservation for the UK's and the worlds history and the countless lives itself and the other Forts helped save in the early warning of Axis air raids and subsequent destruction of 22 Planes and 33 V1 Doodlebugs.
They need to be preserved as a testament to our countries already proud heritage and to the souls that fought and served on them and should not be lost for future generations so they don't have to just imagine from a textbook but to gaze and literally stand mouth agaped as I always do at their Awesomeness!!!
And to just enjoy just as I have and always will!
The old girls still gives me goosebumps to this day everytime I come to visit!
(Keep It up Ladies!!!) (Please don't repeat lol!)"
Steve Christian
Works Co Ordinator (S Sgt) (Full Steam ahead Mr Christian)
Steve has been a very active volunteer since 2012 he has achieved many tasks at the fort and was instrumental in the fitment of the new Fendering to replace the original sea damaged ones. He first worked on the Swanley to Sevenoaks section of the M25 for John Laing Construction. Then worked for various house building and construction companies for many years working on many Civil construction Projects.
Steve along with David and Ramon Help organise the finer details of our working trips to the Sea Forts such so that nobody forgets all the fixings or fittings necessary to complete our current task/s etc etc so as every job is carried out seamlessly (Weather permitting of course!! LOL).
"For the past twenty years I have been a member of KURG (Kent Underground Research Group) working on lots of different subterranean projects. I have also worked on the Fan Bay Deep Shelter near Dover for the National Trust.
I got involved with Redsands quite a few years ago and have been out on many workdays throughout that time.
Excitement, enjoyment and wonderment is still there every single time I go out to the Forts."
"I truly believe it is very important that we need to save these Seaforts and historical monuments for future generations to enjoy!”
Ramon Potter
Works Co Ordinator (Sgt) (Grand Master P)
Ramon has been involved with Project Redsands since 2011 his involvement has included liaseing with other volunteers regarding upcoming restoration aspects and has been heavily involved with the interior refittment of our two new weather secured rooms.
Ray first became interested in the Thames Estuary Forts in his early teens.
His parents had a caravan at Reculver and he studied them through binoculars from the beaches.
His interest became more curious when the Pirate radio stations started broadcasting from them in the mid-sixties and He also had a fascination for those aswell.
Later Ray joined the Friends of the Forts organisation which was run by Frank Turner. It was then that his ambition to go out to see them was then fulfilled, when Frank Turner started to run boat trips out to them from Herne bay.
After that he was hooked and always wanted to go on board to have a look but that was not possible at that time.
"About seven years ago a workmate of mine was asking on behalf of a friend of his for volunteers to join the Project Redsand team.
I was interested and that’s when I joined.
My skills had some sort of relevance as I am a fitter by trade (electro/mechanical) and my hobbies include DIY and renovating anything that can be repaired. I am particularly interested in renovating old antique telephones.] Redsands to me has always been an amazing feat of engineering to behold! , To take an onshore Anti Aircraft battery and literally pick it up out of the ground and put it on stilts , then put it into the sea and make it function is simply extraordinary a part of our history that simply should not be confined to the pages whilst the buildings are still available for the worlds enjoyment and not left for people to imagine when they can still see for themselves!"
Your Name Here
Recruitment Officer
Can you spare some Time ?
We are always looking for skilled people to help us with the restoration effort.
Join the team if you dare !
Together we can do it !
JOIN THE TEAM
Your Name Here
Recruitment Officer
Can you spare some Time ?
We are always looking for skilled people to help us with the restoration effort.
Join the team if you dare !
Together we can do it !
JOIN THE TEAM
Paul Ruskin
(LCpl) (Ted)
Paul has always loved the Seaforts ever since he first saw them back in 2010.
He spends a lot of time in Whitstable/Tankerton albeit on a short break or just visiting for the day Paul has been instrumental with the window reinstatement program being up until 0400 some mornings manufacturing some of the fittings and fixtures .
"I've been involved with the Project Redsand since 2017 , Absolutely blown away by the place and I,m still in shock and Awe everytime I come to visit.
I'm absolutely dedicated to this wonderful piece of Engineering/History and the brilliant job the Project achieves with the very little we have and the limited funds allbeing Weather dependant of course.
Adam Cutts
Private (Pvt) (Cuttsy Sr)
We have assisted various ongoing manoeuvres there - mainly helping out with clearance of rubbish, tidying up and assisting with lifting heavy stuff like the upright crash beams now secured against the landing deck etc
We would very much like to continue - especially on the initial kind of idea, which was to help decide, advise, and do any imminent restoration work paint wise to the many interior surfaces.
There is a lot of potential to reinstate various 'lost' colour schemes in a sympathetic approach to the 1940's appearance .
I am a full time scenic artist and designer in telly, films etc, used to location work bespoke to countless different criteria and surfaces .
We made an initial plan to wire brush, wire wool, and prime various dilapidated metal surfaces - starting in the room where the log burner was installed.
I know logistics and various other things have changed in our absence over the last few years, but would always be up for further involvement with Project Redsands overall!
David Jackson
Corporal (Cpl) (Jacko)
David Jackson has been involved with Project Redsand since 2011 and has completed many tasks including many rope access jobs.
"Ever since I was a child growing up on Canvey island I have looked out on the Thames and often wondered what these strange structures were, as I got older I came to learn what they were and the significant role they played in WW2 with their tally of 22 Planes and 30 V1 Doodlebugs! also there fantastic job as an early warning system and marvel at the amount of lives that they saved. I have always been interested in military history from all ages.I am involved with many other projects as a volunteer, but Redsand and has its own unique challenges.I travel several times a year to Europe to research and photograph the remains of conflicts past. I still live in Essex and make the pilgrimage when I can to get out to the forts and do my bit, I am extremely proud of what we have achieved with the little we have had.
I will continue to support the project into the future".
Michael Banham
Private (Pvt) (Big and Daft)
Michael Banham also lives on Canvey Island with a very similar story to David Jackson.
Having lived there all his life he has always been fascinated with them and like us all he was stunned by the first time he visited.
"I was meant to go visit them thanks to the help from David Foulkes with my Dad but sadly cancer destroyed that plan as he got ill too fast & then died about 16 weeks ago". " I like to donate some of my free time to the project because I know that my old man would be looking down & be proud as I am helping such a good cause. I am 30 years old & a Army Reserve PT Instructor and also hope to Achieve P company in the near future so can help with labouring & lifting plus I am a qualified mechanic in Civvy Street and the Army Reserves as also part of 103 Bn REME so can help with fixing & maintenance tasks!"
Michael is also hoping to learn to weld to help bolster his Fabrication Skills and aid the Project.
Oisin Cutts
Private (Pvt) (Cuttsy Jr)
We have assisted various ongoing manoeuvres there - mainly helping out with clearance of rubbish, tidying up and assisting with lifting heavy stuff like the upright crash beams now secured against the landing deck etc
We would very much like to continue - especially on the initial kind of idea, which was to help decide, advise, and do any imminent restoration work paint wise to the many interior surfaces.
There is a lot of potential to reinstate various 'lost' colour schemes in a sympathetic approach to the 1940's appearance .
I am a full time scenic artist and designer in telly, films etc, used to location work bespoke to countless different criteria and surfaces .
We made an initial plan to wire brush, wire wool, and prime various dilapidated metal surfaces - starting in the room where the log burner was installed.
I know logistics and various other things have changed in our absence over the last few years, but would always be up for further involvement with Project Redsands overall!
Mat Colin Halliday
Private (Pvt) (Pvt Pike)
Mat has been involved with the Project since 2017 when he first attended one of our working weekend trips and has been a steadfast welders mate ever since.
His Fabrication skills are already high and he is always willing to try out a new challenge.
He is currently learning to weld aswell as Michael Banham.
"I went out there after hearing so much about them and seeing them on the horizon.
Having being given an opportunity to become part of the work team I was absolutely Gobsmacked by the sight of them and the hairs on the back of my neck still stand up with each visit."
Your Name Here
Recruitment Officer
Can you spare some Time ?
We are always looking for skilled people to help us with the restoration effort.
Join the team if you dare !
Together we can do it !
JOIN THE TEAM
Dave Williams
L/Cpl (Bungy) Welder Fabricator
Dave lives just outside Portsmouth and has been involved with the Project since 2017.
And is a very keen amateur historian, Having appeared on various TV programs being a WW2 Reenactor.
His passion for the forts was ignited after reading about them in a history book and then researching them on the internet and after many hours spent doing this approached the Project and arranged to attend a work party trip and was instrumental in the finishing and weather proofing of the first room which is now ready for the finishing of the interior and final fitment (Full report to follow) including the reinstatement of the original light fittings.
Dave is also a member of 128 Fd Coy 103 Bn REME and is employed there as a Metalsmith , He is also an accomplished Welder / Fabricator in Civvy Street.
"Project Redsands is a fantastic vision for The Redsand Army Sea Forts and I am proud to part of the restoration team."
Charles Chad Giles
Cpl (Pvt Godfrey)
Chad has been a member of the Project since 2017
He has travelled up from his home in Dorset on several occasions to attend working party trips.
He has always been fascinated with the Towers after first hearing about them on social media.
Chad is also a Welder Fabricator / Electrical Engineer and an Ex Serving member of 128 Fd Coy 103 Bn REME based at Portsmouth.
"A destination well worth saving not just from a historical point of view but also from an Engineering Stance!"
Dave Bradshaw
Cpl (Biggles) Welder / Fabricator
Dave joined the project last year and has been very involved with the onshore preparation of components for the various jobs in progress at the moment.
Always very keen to help out anyone Dave has become very popular amongst the other volunteers.
A Panel beater and Sprayer by trade with the addition of Mechanical Engineering and Coded welding Skills.
Dave has been fascinated with the forts after watching Abandoned Engineering .
"As soon as I had watched Abandoned Engineering I set off the next day to Shoeburyness East Beach being as it was a clear day and just simply had to see them for myself , Well all could say is Wow and subsequently went onto the internet and found out about the project and simply had to be involved!"
Anthony Counsell
Cfn (Lofty) Welder / Fabricator
Anthony joined the Project last year after hearing about it during his time with the Army Reserves with 128 Div Sup Coy 103 Bn REME based in Portsmouth.
Always a keen Historian , Anthony has previously visited many Military sites current and Ex and has been particularly impressed with the Redsand Towers as he is an Engineer by trade.
"Once I found about the Project to restore these amazing structures I knew I had received my volunteer calling."
Drew Johnstone
Sgt (The Sgt Major) Mechanical Engineer
Drew first came out to the Forts in 2009 and has been involved with various tasking's within the Project he is a keen sailor and simply loves the Sea and History particularly anything Military based .
A Retired Warrant Officer 1st Class who served 40 years as a Reservist serving with various units and laterly 169 Fd Coy 103 Bn REME.
Drew is an accomplished Welder / Fabricator and is also a Mechanical Engineer he now drives Dangerous goods vehicles namely Petrol tankers.
Always keen to help out one of his passions is taking the helm of X-Pilot to safely navigate us from shore to the Towers.
"I absolutely love it out there the Forts are a wonderful sight to behold and I'm proud to be involved with their Restoration! I'm hooked."
"We will make these old girl's sparkle once more!"
Eddie Young
RSM (Celtic Killer) Cpl
William Smith
to be assigned
Hay my names Will & im an Urban Explorer extraordinaire, i take many picture with my camera on my travels as filming too, i love anything with a bit of History from WW2 to Cold War, i consider to be a bit of an entertaining guy to brighten up your day, i also share my travels with my crew of explorers on my YouTube - SuperPopBro